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When you choose to publish with PLOS, your research makes an impact. Make your work accessible to all, without restrictions, and accelerate scientific discovery with options like preprints and published peer review that make your work more Open.

Using Open Science to EXPLORE and push research boundaries

Pursue research that excites you. Break boundaries. Push the frontiers of science. 

Open Science gives you the freedom to create new opportunities for research exploration, to follow your questions wherever they may lead, and to direct your research agenda in accordance with your interests–regardless of which investigatory pathways are well-funded or popular.

Watch this video to see why research needs EXPLORERS

Researchers like you are pursuing research that excites and pushes the frontiers of science, while at the same time pursuing their intellectual curiosity.

You value the freedom to pursue your intellectual interests wherever they may lead. You read widely, love to learn from other researchers, and you’re willing to try new things and collaborate across disciplines to deepen your knowledge.

How to ensure that your research challenges expectations and creates new opportunities.

Simple steps to help ensure that the research that intrigues and motivates you leads to greater insights, and even to whole new fields of inquiry.

Preregistration frees researchers to pursue innovative studies with transformative potential and a high chance of failure (sometimes known as ‘high-risk, high-reward’ research).

With preregistration, you can receive a provisional acceptance based on the study design and analytical approach, and proceed with confidence knowing that your research will be publishable, whatever the outcomes.

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Sometimes, two research groups independently achieve similar results around the same time. That’s a good thing–complementary findings reinforce the validity of both studies, demonstrate credibility and increase confidence. 

All of our selective journals have a complementary research (or “scooping”) policy, which protects the second study from being rejected for novelty for six months from the date the first study appears publicly as a preprint or journal article.

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Learning what doesn’t work is an important step toward discovering what does. Share meaningful negative and null outcomes by posting a preprint, publishing in a journal focused on rigorous research–or both.

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Methods transcend discipline, bringing together researchers with a broad range of expertise and seeding new and innovative solutions. Seize the opportunity to learn from others and share your own knowledge in turn with open methods–including protocols, preregistration, code, and more.

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Gain early insight into the latest research and support your community by volunteering your time as an Editorial Board member or peer reviewer with journals that support your values.

All our Editorial Board members and peer reviewers provide a considerable service to the scientific community, as they volunteer their valuable time to make sure rigor and fairness is applied to published research. They are also involved in shaping our journal policies and our research and advocating for Open Science in their communities.

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"We see Open Science adoption as essential to increasing accessibility, trust and collaboration around research"

PLOS’ Open Research Manager, Marcel LaFlamme explains why being curious is key to building research solutions.

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How do you want your research to make a difference?

Learn how other Open Science practices benefit your work and the research community

Explore your publishing options with PLOS

How much do you already incorporate Open Science as part of your research process?

How do your actions support scientific communications?

With multiple time pressures and choices, which of your values influence the decisions you make. Challenge yourself to find out your motivations by taking our quiz, then learn how your values are helping to make science communication stronger.

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